How to Produce a Video Resume

It seems like a slick way to get attention: produce a video resume. But how and why you do it can make all the difference in your job hunt.

TechRepublic.com has put together, naturally, a video report on the topic of video resumes. Frankly, the video itself ignored some of the rules of video resumes but it still provided some useful information that could help you produce a video resume.

By the way, a written article accompanies the report in case you want to skip the 2:13 video. However, if you’re not interested enough to watch the video you may not be a good candidate for submitting a video.

You need to feel some passion before doing a video resume. “According to Glassdoor’s Scott Dobroski, making a video resume might be a good option to aid your job hunt—but, there are a few things to consider before deciding to create one. ‘If you’re doing one just to do it, that’s a ‘don’t,”’ he said in the article.

The first rule of video resumes, according to TechRepublic, is knowing your audience. “Using a video resume to get a job in a more creative field like marketing, might be more effective. Ask yourself if the company you’re applying to has the type of culture that would welcome a video more than a regular resume,” the article says.

But is anybody going to watch that video? Susan Heathfield, the human resources expert at About.com says the majority of human resources execs are at least interested. She writes, “According to career publisher Vault Inc.’s annual employer survey: 89% of employers revealed that they would watch a video resume if it were submitted to them. Although most employers have not yet used this new technology as an evaluative tool—only 17% have actually viewed a video resume—the vast majority are receptive to it.

“The primary reason why employers would value video resumes is the ability to assess a candidate’s professional presentation and demeanor (52%).”

Presentation and demeanor is covered in the TechRepublic advice. “Since a video resume can be a way for a potential employer to see if a candidate is a cultural fit, Shravan Goli, president of Dice.com, said to get comfortable with the camera. ‘If you get past the barrier that there is a screen in front of you, your personality will come out,’ he said.”

The website SocialAdviser.com shares some good advice on appearing comfortable in front of the camera. It says to practice, practice, practice and talk about something else beside yourself before filming the video resume. “Set up your camera, sit down in front of it. And hit record. Now talk about something. Anything! Do a book review, a movie review, a recap of your day, and then watch it back. You’ll see that because you are talking about something tangible, something you know, something you experience, you will appear really natural in front of the camera,” the site says.

TechRepublic also shares a couple of “don’ts” for video resumes: don’t rush production and don’t forget to rewatch before submitting. With regards to the former, “the most basic requirements of a video resume are that you can be seen and heard clearly. Not everyone has the resources or skills to produce professional quality, but that doesn’t mean you should just churn out a video. [If] you don’t have a decent camera, odds are someone you know does.”

Rewatching the video is also important because that’s when you might catch glaring errors. Check for unintentional distractions in the background and pay attention to the smallest details. Have someone not involved in the production watch the video. It could be a career saver.

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Keith Griffin is an award-winning business writer and editor with more than 30 years experience as a journalist. His work has been published in The Boston Globe, Medical Economist, Good Housekeeping, About.com, the Hartford Courant, CT Law Tribune and numerous other regional publications. Google+ Profile